Environmental Risks: Climate Change - Essay Example

Environmental risks: Climate change affiliation Environmental risks: Climate change On numerous occasions, the issue of climate change discussed with the objective of finding solutions to end the vice. However, the efforts have been futile as negative changes in the environment are a daily occurrence. Moreover, the effects of climate change have been of great impact on both human lives and the environment. Over the years, these effects have been influenced by the human activity. Human activity has been cited as the greatest threat to the environment. As encroachment to the environment deepens, the risks posed on the environment are of significant risk to human life and the environment. However, there are discussions based on the level of risks that may be posed by climate change. Climate change has been of great to the environment and human life. In addition, the risks posed by climate change can be cited as the leading cause of natural deaths and natural calamities (Costa& Martins, 2011). On the other hand, climate change is created by the technological advancement efforts envied by humans. For this reason, its effects are of a lesser risk and great impact to the lives of the people. What are the main risks posed by climate change? Are the changes of great or less impact on human life and environment? Costa& Martins (2011)are in support that the risks posed on the environment are of greater risks. The authors further point out that the effects have caused devastating effects on both human lives and the environment (Costa& Martins, 2011). From the argument, one may point out that climate change has been the leading cause of natural calamities. This argument is supported by claiming that before the climate change became a global problem; less natural calamities on the environment were reported. However, the modern century is highly prone of natural calamities. These events have been of devastating effects on the environment. For instance, there have been devastating tsunamis in the global oceans. They are as cause of climate change. The effects of these calamities have been saddening as many people have lost their lives. In addition, the same impact has been on infrastructures. The same level of risk is poised in arid and semi-arid areas of Africa. The dry seasons in Africa have been prolonged and more severe. Costa& Martins (2011) assert that on an annual basis, the number of deaths as a result of harsh weather conditions in Africa double yearly. The authors further point out that the trend is expected to worsen if climate change is not effectively tackled (Costa& Martins, 2011). From the examples provided, it is an accurate assumption that the environment risks posed by climate change are high-level risks. In addition, the risks have devastating effects on human life and the environment. This could be justified by that climate change summits are often considered with the objective of certain a lasting solution. Costa& Martins (2011) are of the assumption that climate change has required the intervention of global stakeholders. The authors further point out that these interventions have required the use of force and constitutional policies that would make the implementation of climate change policies a mandatory requirement (Costa& Martins, 2011). Regardless of these efforts, the loss of human life and infrastructure has increased significantly due to the effects of climate change. Moreover, strategies that are required to minimize these risks have been less successful. From a general perspective, climate change has been cited as the greatest danger on human life and the environment. Its effects have been of greater risks thus justifying the perspective that climate change poses high-level risks on the environment. In a counter argument, Bruin &Felgehauer (2009) assert that climate change is required as part of environment advancement and embracing new technology. The authors further point out that, activities leading to climate change provide great improvement to the environment than the risks it creates (Bruin & Felgehauer, 2009). This could be justified by analyzing human life in the modern century and previous century. Significant improvements have been made on human life and the environment. For instance, the creation of industries has increased the production of raw materials thus enhancing the accessibility of commodities. Such characteristics of human life were not available centuries back. Bruin & Felgehauer (2009) assert that there is a great relationship between human requirement and activities required to fulfill these needs. For this reason, human requirements create a mandatory need that requires consumption of raw material thus leading to depletion of the environment. This is the leading cause of climate change. From this argument, one may point out that the role of the human needs and life is creating a more unstable environment should not be disregarded. Consequently, human beings benefit from natural resources. This justifies the assumption that depletion of the environment is of the benefit of people. In analyzing the level of risk posed by climate change, Bruin &Felgehauer (2009) point out that the level of risk is low. This is based on that the risks caused are also of great benefit to human beings. The increased growth of industries has been regarded as the greatest environmental polluter. The emissions from industries are significant causes of climate change. However, the benefits of these industries on people are massive. Bruin & Felgehauer (2009) point out that 90% of the human population is fully dependent on industrial goods. In addition, some industrial products are mandatory to human existence. For instance, the production of drugs and clothes is mandatory. For this reason, one may justify the effects done on the environment through the production of such commodities. Bruin & Felgehauer (2009) are of the assumption that the effects caused by the lack of such commodities are of a greater risk than the risks made by climate change. Consequently, the modern day human life is not dependent on natural resources as much as man-made resources. From this argument, one may point out that the effects made on the environment by climate change do not vastly affect human life than changes made to minimize industrial production due to their polluting nature. This dependency creates the justification that climate change creates low-level risks considering the benefits of its causing factors on human life. Additionally, people hold in preference benefits from man-made production regardless of their effects on the environment. From a personal perspective, climate change poses high-level risk on the environment. My justification is based on that the modern day natural environment is facing extreme depletion from human activity. This trend has caused massive changes in the normal weather patterns and the environment. The resultant effects of these changes are extreme weather conditions witnessed and increased natural calamities. Prior to increased events causing climate change, extreme weather conditions and natural calamities were not the norms. This justifies the argument that climate change has extreme high-level risk to the environment and human life. This is regardless of the argument that may classify the causes of climate change as basic human needs. From the arguments presented, climate change has been cited as a bad environmental feature. This is based on the effects it has impacted on people and the environment. However, human needs are also cited as the determinants of whether climate change has more positive than negative effects. Regardless of these, arguments climate change poses significant risks to the environment, and its address would be of great importance. References Bruin, K. &Felgehauer, T. (2009).The optimal paths of climate change mitigation and adaptation under certainty and uncertainty. International Journal of Global Warming, 1, (1, 2,3) 66-88. Costa, L. & Martins, R. (2011). Opportunities and constraints for local and subnational climate change policy in urban areas: insights from diverse context. International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 11, (1) 37-53. Read More